The Effectiveness of Group-Based Behavioral Activation Therapy on Self-Efficacy and Quality of Life in Cardiovascular Patients
Keywords:
Behavioral activation therapy, Self-efficacy, Quality of life, Cardiovascular patientsAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of group-based behavioral activation therapy on self-efficacy and quality of life in cardiovascular patients.
Methods and Materials: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population included all male and female cardiovascular patients hospitalized at Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad during the second half of 2024. From this population, 30 individuals were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). Participants in the experimental group received group-based behavioral activation therapy for eight 90-minute sessions, held twice a week. The control group was placed on a two-month waiting list. Data were collected using the General Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (Sherer & Maddux, 1982) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (Ware & Sherbourne, 1992). Research data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Findings: The findings revealed that after controlling for pretest effects, there were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in posttest scores for self-efficacy and the quality-of-life components (including physical functioning, social functioning, emotional role functioning, mental health, vitality, and general health). However, no significant differences were observed in the components of physical role functioning and bodily pain.
Conclusion: Overall, based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that group-based behavioral activation therapy can be effective in enhancing self-efficacy and quality of life in cardiovascular patients.
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